New Delhi: In a significant relief to international travelers, the Delhi High Court has directed Customs officials not to unnecessarily detain old or personal jewellery, including ornaments worn by passengers during their journey. The court emphasized that such actions cause undue harassment and inconvenience, and must be avoided.
The directive came from a bench comprising Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Rajnish Kumar Gupta, who clearly stated that routine detention of personal jewellery at airports must stop. The court also acknowledged that the Baggage Rules, 2016 are outdated and not in sync with current realities—especially the sharp rise in gold prices.
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) informed the court that it is in consultation with stakeholders regarding amendments to these rules. In the meantime, the court instructed that Customs officers must be sensitized and guided appropriately. If amendments are not introduced by May 19, 2025, the court ordered that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) be put in place to avoid arbitrary seizures.
The order follows multiple petitions filed by aggrieved passengers whose personal jewellery was seized upon arrival in India. The court reiterated its earlier December 2024 ruling, which declared that jewellery worn by travelers qualifies as “personal effects” and is therefore exempt from customs duty.
